Sweet Inspirations

Suffering with back pain has become a challenge for me this week. I am new to this kind of ailment and my internet time has become very limited because of the nasty pain in my neck, upper back and right arm. Poor poor me right? lol

I am seriously a baby when it comes to pain with a visit full of tears to the chiropractor and massage therapist this week in addition to all sorts of pill popping.

One kind word, one soft inspirational post can put the pain aside for a few moments and give me a smile, a virtual hug and cease it long enough to write a post of thanks!

Thank you to all the writers for the great posts. I sincerely enjoy reading this blog and sharing the love with everyone on the world wide web.

To play a small part of a "Drama Free Community" with inspirational posts is a true honor for me and I can't thank everyone enough. If I feel this way with hidden pain today there must be others out there feeling the love as well!

Thanks for the twitter post Luis:

luis_galarza luis_galarza


Congratulations to my Sweet DIVA Friend Danna Crawford (@PowerSellingMom ) for the increase of ranking of her blog... http://fb.me/O660ghWC  "

That simple twitter post is a great example of HOW POWERFUL inspiration can be!  Because of that post, I was motivated and inspired, running from the drama to write a post here on our blog with a smile!

Hugz and drama free blessings to all!

eBay and True TV not for sissies

When I listed an action figure of Ben Affleck (from his 1998 role as AJ Frost in the movie "Armageddon") on eBay, I had no idea the handsome plastic prince would bring so much drama to my life.

The action figure was paid for on February 21 and shipped out to Santa Monica, California with little fan-fare on February 22 via USPS Priority Mail. On March 2, I received a frantic email from the buyer. It was one of those "Dude, where's my stuff!?" messages that set my heart racing.  It seems "Ben" was needed as a TV show prop that was to be filmed the following Monday and she had to have him by Friday at the latest... that is, Day after TOMORROW!

Looking at the tracking information, I saw that the package had been delivered and a notice left, which usually means the recipient wasn't available to receive the item. After a few phone calls I left a message on the buyer's phone mail. Within the hour I received a phone call back and we agreed that it looked like the Ben was headed back to me. The buyer and I could not understand why it was held only a few days in Santa Monica Post Office before it was sent it back to me. I agreed to get it back to the post office and ship it Express mail immediately to get it to her the next day, her deadline was pressing.

This morning was spent with my usual eBay morning routine, getting shipping labels printed, researching the next items to put up for auction, and taking care of the 1,001 other details that all eBay sellers have to attend. 

Noon came and went, no postman! One o'clock, still my postal box was empty. I began to really worry. I had the label printed (this time with the suite number which had been left off the original shipping information) and had researched the cost to Express mail "Ben" back to California. Suddenly, I decided to check the tracking information one more time. To my amazement, it showed the item had been received in Orlando (headed for my place), then sent back westward and received in California about 11:30 last night. Hooray!

I called the buyer (who from the sounds of it was in a meeting) and she told me she had called USPS with the tracking # and told them the problem and that she needed the package sent back to California. I managed to wheedle the details of the TV filming and found out it is to be a prop on TRUTV (network) in an episode that will probably be titled "Forbidden Storage".  TruTV airs such shows as "Hardcore Pawn" a show that I personally enjoy which next airs Tue, March 8 at 10P and the very popular "Operation Repo" which airs Wednesdays @ 9pm. I will be looking for "Ben" on the upcoming show and will let you know more details as I get them.

Lessons learned today:

1. As a buyer, make sure your complete address is in the Ship To: address field. 
2. The Post Office will not hold an item more than a few days if address is incorrect or incomplete
3. Never underestimate the importance of getting a tracking # and putting on each item you ship
4. eBay is successful, for one thing, because it encourages buyers and sellers to communicate. You won't find that on Amazon!

We Inspire Each Other

What I need is someone who will make me do what I can. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

We all have goals. They may be small...or rather large and lofty, but we are all looking ahead to something. Perhaps we don't think we can actually get there. Or maybe we never doubt ourselves for a moment. Some of us work hard and keep our goals in focus. Some of us wish away our time and wonder where it went. Most of us do a little of both.

All of us need inspiration. A friend. A mentor. Someone to snap us back to reality when we dream too much and work too little or just plain give up. A positive shove in the right direction will do us good.

January is gone. February is over and done. March is here with another clean page and fresh start.

It is sure to be a great month if we make ourselves do the work. Ralph was right!

5 Easy Tips To Release Stress Today

Release Stress - Avoid Drama!

Do you think is easier or harder to release stress now in days?

Our life lately has become a Star Wars journey to everything we do on a daily basics. Is an high tech world, technology that can make our life easier, but research shows that is also elevating our stress levels, because now we have more things to do or keep track of than before, things like:

• Did you send that tweet on Twitter yet.
• I need to tell my Facebook friends where I'm going right now.
• Oh, man! I forgot to update foursquare with my current location.
• I need to check my voicemail again.
• Let see how many messages and spam I got on my email.
• Oh, I almost forgot, I need to check my Facebook messages too.
• As soon I have time I need to sign up for LinkedIn.
• I hope I get to download my favorite song for my iPod today.
• Etc..

And the list goes on, and on... There are many other element that are contributing to this, like unemployment levels, fear of loosing your job, slow economy, working long hours, dropping sales in your business, and more. The fact is that almost any negative factor in our life can get us to get stress.

In a tech based world like ours a simple note written by hand can make a remarkable difference. Here are a few tip to help you release your stress today:

1. Start by handwriting a positive statement on two clean piece of paper, then posted on your fridge or desk and send  the other copy to a friend or family member that might need some motivational help.

2. Show stress the way out by decreasing tension in your shoulders. You can do this by simply raising them towards your ears, then you need to hold that position for three seconds, then exhale while releasing them.

3. Show you are accessible by sending a small email or message to one of your top business leads or prospects you got this week. Just remember to show that you are ready and willing to help them.

4. Energize your body during the day with healthy snacks. So, be sure to keep a good supply of protein bars, dried fruits, nuts, or other type of healthy snack you can find at your local super market.

5. Did you visualize achieving your goals yet? If your goal is to have a very productive day each and everyday, just close your eyes for about 60 seconds in the morning, then generate a positive vision focusing on the way your want your day to be.

I hope this little tips can help you to said bye to stress today!

Luis Galarza,
A motivated and crazy entrepreneur!

My blog: Free Internet Marketing.

Connect with me on Twitter or Facebook.

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Stop Sabotaging Your PR Efforts

It is 2011 and what better time than now to begin to build your clear media message and image. After all, as a business owner, sometimes, you may have to rely on your own PR skills, so you may as well get it right. In my day-to-day life I'm a PR expert, coach and speaker. This year, I kicked off the year offering relevant PR tips to capture media for my book clients. However, I quickly realized, it can be translated into other industries (or as a solo-preneur) as well and I thought I'd share.
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Be bold and relevant in 2011! Are you handling your own PR Campaign? Just know that PR success can be obtained. Here are 3 ways to ensure exposure and credibility with your PR efforts. I like to call them the 3 C’s of a Book Publicity Campaign:    

•  Consistency - Having between one and two media appearances (radio show, TV or print) will NOT skyrocket your business to the top of Google or on the front page of the paper!  As an "top leader" responsible for your own PR efforts, it will take more than a few appearances.  It takes months and consistent publicity to have your media outreach efforts payoff; sometimes even longer. But, you must stick with it and be consistent.  A lot of times when you see important people (READ YOU) make appearances on major shows like the Oprah Show, Regis & Kelli & GMA; that buzz started regionally. It is critical to build the buzz around you, your hometown and then regional/statewide.
•  Covet local press – There are some golden opportunities to covet your local and regional press. Do not make the mistake of overlooking this opportunity. Business leaders all want that coveted role of landing on some "Best Businesses to know..." type of list or status. But, often times, that happens due to the local buzz and local support of regional media. People will love to cheer for you and your business success. If you get coverage, your hometown or state gets coverage too. It’s nostalgic and heart-warming for the town, the state and the business owner.  Covet the local press and do not count them out. Local and regional press have a nationwide reach.
• Creative Pitch – Does your service offering or product have a current event theme? Can it be related to a business scenario currently happening in the news? What‘s in the news? Be sure you know what reporters, journalists and the media is talking about BEFORE you call to pitch a story to them. For example, if your book is on “Surviving Divorce”, perhaps you pitch a story to the media during Valentine’s Day about “Four ways to love your way through divorce”. This creativity can certainly land you in the news, as most of the stories will be about “love, finding your mate, celebrating love…etc. A lot of times, the media needs a twist on a story…make it creative. Make it relevant, before you pitch.

CONGRATS on your PR efforts in 2011! Implementing these 3 C’s above will add value to your campaign approach. See you in the news! Remember, your image matters! Make it a positive one! 

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You have permission to reprint this article with this required author credit:

Antoinette Sykes offers a free Book Success eZine at www.TCBoutik.com. She also offers consulting and holds Book Publicity events. About Author: Antoinette Sykes is a PR expert, speaker and coach operating a boutique PR agency that focuses on authors and event PR.

Nothing is as easy as it looks!

Sometimes insight comes from funny places – literally. Today it was from a silly comic strip, Rhymes With Orange, in the local newspaper. Two people looking at a distant snowman, one remarks that the snowman is so peaceful.

The next frame shows the snowman up close. He is worrying to himself…sleet, sun, dogs, rabbits...

For me, this is a reminder that nothing is as easy as it looks from the outside. Time and time again I am surprised to find out that someone that I admire has to work at success – they make it look so easy! Or I make the mistake of forgetting that nobody has the perfect life or situation. We all have obstacles and challenges to overcome. We all have advantages, too. Fortunately, unlike the snowman, we can act to change the course of our days.

New Vision creates a New Victorious 2011

Happy New Year to all, may this be the most prosperous year ever for you. We have the ability to have hope or defeat for our future. We NEED vision in our lives because it's what sets our course and gives us hope for our future. 

Lift up your heads, because in 2011 you will celebrate victory over the things that mastered you in 2010.  We must begin to see ourselves in the role we will be in a year from now, a decade from now and even further. 

We are in a time of transition and a time of fresh vision. Transitions are healthy and good for us. When we allow ourselves to be stretched into a new place we will experience fresh joys on the other side. 

It is important that we open our hearts up to fresh vision. It is too easy to go through life without any definite direction. If we allow this to happen we feel like we are in a hurry to head nowhere fast. A life without vision is a life that is destined to be a life without purpose.